Muscat: In its latest meeting, the OCCI SME Committee reviewed a host of new initiatives aimed at driving growth in Oman’s entrepreneurship sector. Central to the discussion was the upcoming “Empowerment and Sumou” exhibition in Riyadh, which will be held in cooperation with the Riyadh Chamber. The event aims to spotlight emerging businesses in key sectors such as health, training, media, and marketing.

Committee members emphasized the need to establish clear criteria for selecting participating companies—prioritizing institutions with strong potential for growth and regional expansion.

Further plans are underway to organize a dedicated SME forum during the Dhofar Khareef season in August 2025. The event will feature approximately 60 institutions from across Oman’s governorates. Selected through OCCI’s local branches, the participating companies will benefit from exposure to a high-traffic festival location, with support from the Dhofar Municipality.

The committee also followed up on the progress of several strategic platforms including “Sustainability” and “Istiqdam,” as well as a food security initiative involving the cultivation of desert lemons. The agricultural project will support 20 SMEs in developing 400 acres of lemon farmland, contributing both to food security and rural enterprise development.

Commenting on the committee’s direction, Sheikh Ahmed bin Amer Al Musalhi, Chairman of the Committee, stated: “The Committee is working to adopt sustainable initiatives that contribute to building strong small and medium-sized enterprises capable of competing locally and regionally. Through these initiatives, it seeks to provide real platforms for growth and expansion, with a focus on supporting innovation and entrepreneurship and facilitating access to markets and investment opportunities, thus enhancing the contribution of these enterprises to the development of the national economy.”